Good news for descendants of former Czechoslovak citizens.
The changes approved by Parliament largely reflect the original proposal published by the Ministry of Interior earlier this year. From 15 July 2026, the citizenship-by-descent process will become significantly simpler on the administrative side and thus more accessible.
While the key requirement for applicants — the eligibility criteria —remains unchanged, the application process will be less bureaucratic and more practical, particularly for applicants living abroad.
1. No More Residency Requirement
The most significant change is the abolition of the residency requirement for citizenship-by-descent applicants.
Until now, applicants seeking Slovak citizenship through a parent, grandparent or great-grandparent generally had to obtain a form of pro forma residence status in Slovakia before they could apply for citizenship.
For applicants submitting their applications in Slovakia, this meant an additional administrative step with the Foreign Police before the citizenship application could be filed with the competent District Office. Obtaining an appointment often added delays and introduced a second authority into the process.
From 15 July 2026, eligible descendants of former Czechoslovak citizens will be able to apply for Slovak citizenship without first obtaining residency in Slovakia. Applications will proceed directly through the citizenship authorities, removing the need for prior approval from the Foreign Police.
For applicants applying from abroad, the practical impact is slightly different. Applications can already be submitted through a Slovak embassy or consulate, and this will remain unchanged. However, the overall process becomes administratively simpler because applicants will no longer need to satisfy a separate residency requirement before their citizenship application can be considered.
Importantly, the documentary requirements remain largely unchanged. Applicants will still need to prove their eligibility through historical records and supporting documentation. The principal difference is that residence-related documentation and the associated residency procedure are being removed from the process, making the administrative path to citizenship considerably more straightforward.
2. The Law Clarifies What Applicants Must Prove
The amended legislation explicitly states that applicants must provide evidence showing that their ancestor was a Czechoslovak citizen born in the territory of present-day Slovakia.
This distinction is important. Being born in what is now Slovakia does not automatically make someone eligible for citizenship by descent. Applicants must also demonstrate that their parent, grandparent or great-grandparent held Czechoslovak citizenship at some point in their life.
Many successful applications rely on a combination of historical records rather than a single document. Depending on the circumstances, evidence may include birth records, census records, naturalisation files, immigration records, passports and other historical sources.
In reality, this has always been a central part of the application process. The amendment does not introduce any new eligibility requirements; it simply confirms what applicants have already been required to prove in practice.
3. Less Paperwork After Approval
The new rules also simplify the steps that follow a successful citizenship application. Currently, newly approved citizens must obtain a separate Certificate of Slovak Citizenship before they can complete many of the practical steps that follow the grant of citizenship.
From 15 July 2026, successful applicants will be able to use their Citizenship Grant Document as proof of Slovak citizenship for 90 days after receiving it. This means that applicants will no longer need to wait for a Certificate of Slovak Citizenship before moving on to the next steps following the grant of citizenship. The certificate itself will remain part of the process and will continue to be issued, but it will no longer create an unnecessary delay between citizenship approval and obtaining Slovak documents.
The changes are particularly beneficial for applicants living abroad. Requests for Certificates of Slovak Citizenship will be processed electronically between Slovak embassies or consulates and the competent authorities in Slovakia. In most cases, applicants will no longer need to wait for paper documents to be physically transferred between authorities, reducing paperwork and speeding up the process.
Taken together, these changes demonstrate a clear effort by the Ministry of Interior to modernise the citizenship process and remove unnecessary administrative hurdles after citizenship has been granted.
What Do These Changes Mean for Applicants?
Overall, the July 2026 amendments remove one of the biggest practical obstacles faced by citizenship-by-descent applicants.
The eligibility criteria remain unchanged, but the administrative process becomes simpler, faster and less bureaucratic. Most importantly, applicants will no longer need to navigate the residency process before submitting their citizenship application.
For descendants of former Czechoslovak citizens who have been waiting for a more practical route to Slovak citizenship, 15 July 2026 marks an important step forward.
If you are considering applying for Slovak citizenship by descent, the new rules may make the process considerably easier. Our team can assess your eligibility, help locate supporting documents and guide you through every stage of the application.
Not sure whether you qualify? Complete our Eligibility Check or contact us at info@zip-citizenship.sk for an initial assessment.